Closure fastening machine



March 15, 1955 F. B. PERRIGUEY Filed June 25 1951 CLOSURE FASTENING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet l HUM March 15, 1955 F. B. PERRIGUEY CLOSURE FASTENING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 25, 1951 IN V EN TOR.

March 15, 1955 F. B. PERRIGUEY 2,703,952

CLOSURE FASTENING MACHINE Filed June 25, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 March 15, 1955 F. B. PERRIGUEY CLOSURE FASTENING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed June 25, 1951 INVENTOR. )0 I BY I 0 l'gg a IIIIII;

United States Patent C CLGSURE FASTENING MACHINE Forrest B. Perriguey, San Gabriel, Calif., assignor, by mesne assignments, to American Trust Company, a corporation of California, as trustee of Rheem Manufacturing Company Employees Pension Plan and Trust Application June 25, 1951, Serial No. 233,285

11 Claims. (Cl. 53-140) This invention relates to a machine for fastening closures upon containers.

Containers comprising a cylindrical shell portion, which is formed of several convolutely wound layers of paper secured to each other by an adhesive, are in common use. Such containers may be formed to have beads at the ends thereof, such beads being integral with the body portion of the container and extending about the entire periphery thereof. Closures for such containers are customarily formed of metal, for example sheet metal, and formed to have a peripheral channel, it being intended that the channel portion of the closure fit snugly over the said beads. Such containers are described, for example, in the patent to McCrery, No. 2,181,705. In order to securely fasten the closure to the container, it is necessary to deform the inner portion of the peripheral channel of the closure so as to press the same tightly against the bead. This deformation of the closure is preferably accomplished by means of expanding jaws. Thus, the closure is placed over the container, the end portion of the latter being located within the channel portion of the closure, and an expanding device is employed to deform the inner portion of the channel so as to press the same outwardly and firmly against the container side wall and bead.-

Machines for securing the bottom closure to any filled container of the type described present no particular difficulty. Thus, the container with the bottom closure can be placed upon a simple expanding jaw device and the jaws thereof expanded radially so as to deform the closure. After the bottom closure is fastened to the container and the container is filled with the materials which it is to contain, it is necessary to then fasten to the drum the top closure. This operation is considerably more difficult than that which can be used to fasten the bottom closure, and several techniques have heretofore been employed to accomplish the same, each of which presents certain disadvantages. Thus, it has been customary to tape the top closure to the container, invert the filled container, and fasten the top closure in the same manner and by the same machine as used for the bottom closure. This expedient is not wholly satisfactory for several reaon. Thus, where relatively large containers are used and the material within the container is of considerable weight, the tape will frequently fail when the container is inverted, thereby releasing the top closure and spilling the contents from the container before the top closure can be fastened.

Another expedient which has been proposed is to invert the expander machine so that the expander jaws may be introduced within the top cloure to deform and thereby fasten the same to the container without inverting the container itself. The size and weight of the expander machine and the weight of a filled container, however, render conventional type expander machines unsuitable for this latter expedient.

In accordance with the present invention, a machine is provided which will fasten the top closure to a filled container without necessitating the inversion of such container. 'In addition, a machine is provided which will automatically and properly position the container therein, fasten the top closure to the container, and then eject the filled container from the machine.

Accordingly, it is a principal object of the present invention to provide a machine for fastening the top closure to an upright filled container.

It is a more particular object of the invention to provide such a machine wherein automatic operation 1s achieved.

It is another object of the invention to provide such a machine wherein, after the closure is fastened to the container, the container is ejected from the machine to make way for the introduction of another container.

-It is still another object of the invention to provide such a machine which is of rugged construction, eflicient and simple to operate.

With the above and other objects in View, as may appear hereinafter, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a machine embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a section taken along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, differing from Fig. 1 in that the machine is shown in its operating position.

Fig. 3 is a section taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2, illustrating a bottom view of the expander head mechanism of the machine.

Fig. 4 is a section taken along the line 4--4 of Fig. 3, but showing the container in a slightly different position for purposes of illustration.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary section taken along the line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 4, but showing a different position of operation of the machine.

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6, but showing the expander jaws of the machine in the expanded position.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary view illustrating a portion of the container body and top closure prior to their insertion in the machine.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary view illustrating a portion of the container body and top closure after operation of the machine.

Referring first to Figs. 1 and 2, the numeral 10 generally designates a frame which supports a pair of horizontal cross beams 12. The frame 10 also supports a top plate 13. Disposed between and secured to cross beams 12 and the top plate 13 is a pair of vertical brackets 14, as shown. Journaled in each of the brackets 14 and supported by bearings 15 is a crank shaft 16, to which is connected a connecting rod 18. At one end of the crank shaft 16 is located a magnetic brake, generally designated at 17. Thus, a projection is provided at one end of the said crank shaft having splines 19. .A disk 20, provided with suitable spline openings, is bolted to the said projection by a bolt 21. As shown, the disk 20 is provided with a friction surface. Adjacent the disk 20 is a second disk 23, fixedly secured by pins to the bearing 15. 'In the disk 23 is disposed a solenoid winding 23a which, when energized in a manner which will hereinafter be explained, serves to force the disk 20 against the disk 23, thereby providing a brake for the crank shaft 16. At the other end of the crank shaft 16 and fixedly secured thereto is a gear wheel 22. Gear wheel 22 is driven in the conventional manner by an electric motor 24 to which is attached a driving gear 25 which meshes with the gear wheel 22.

Pivotally connected to the connecting rod 18 is a shaft 26 which extends through the plunger guide 28. Shaft 26 carries a tapered plunger 30, which, as will hereinafter be described, operates the expander head mechanism, generally designated 32, of the machine.

Carried by the frame 10 is a base plate 34 which supports an air ram 36. Mounted upon a shaft 37 which is attached to the cylinder of the air ram 36 is a lifting platform 38 adapted to receive a container 40 and lift the same vertically into engagement with the expander jaws 42 of the expander head mechanism 32. Also carried by the base plate 34 is an ejector air ram 44. Rigidly linked to one end of a shaft 45 which is attached to the cylinder of the ejector air ram 44 by means of a bracket 46 is an ejector plate 47 which is utilized to eject containers from the machine after the closure has been attached to the container in a manner which will hereinafter be described. To the plate 47 is also attached a shaft 48 having at one end thereof a trip pawl 49 operable to engage toggle switches 50 and 52, which toggle switches 50 and 52 are carried by means of suitable brackets mou-nted upon the air ram 44.

Depending from platform 38 is a rod 54, at one end of which is pivotally carried a trip pawl 55 adapted to engage an air switch 56. Trip pawl 55 is so connected that it will throw the toggle 57 of the switch 56 only on the downward stroke of the rod 54, the pawl 55 freely pivoting so as not to affect toggle 57 on the upward stroke. Also depending from the lifting platform 38 is a second rod 58 adapted to engage a switching arm 59 of electrical switch 60. Switch 60 is in the electric circuit to the motor 24 and so connected that such circuit will be open when switch arm 59 is in the downward position. A starter button 62 is provided. This button controls an air valve to the air ram 36 in a manner hereinafter to be described.

Referring principally to Figs. 3 to 6, the expander head mechanism 32 will now be described. This mechanism comprises a circular head member 64 in which may be disposed an annular groove 65 to reduce weight and material. Bolted to the circular head member 64 is a series of radially extending and peripherally spaced retainer plates 66. Disposed between these retainer plates 66 and slidably carried thereby is a plurality of expander jaw carriers 68, the inward portion of which is in the form of a tapered block adapted to receive the tapered plunger As best seen in Fig. 5, outwardly of the tapered block portion, the jaw carrier 68 is flanged at the tops and bottoms thereof to form side channels adapted to receive the spaced retainer plates 66. The jaw carriers 68 are thereby carried by the retainer plates 66 and free to slide radially thereon. The inner portion of each of the jaw carriers 68 is channeled out, as seen, and radially extending shaft 70 disposed therein. Each shaft 70 abuts against and is held in place by a plate 72 which is bolted to the circular head member 64. Carried by each of the shafts 70 is a compression spring 73, one end of which abuts against the plate 72 and the other end of which abuts against the tapered block portion of the jaw carriers 68. As seen, compression spring 73 will tend to maintain the jaw carriers 68 in the inward or retracted position. The lower portion of each of the jaw carriers contains a radially extending slot 74 adapted to receive bolts 75 which secure to the jaw carriers 68 the expander jaws 42. The position of the expander jaws relative to the jaw carriers is thereby made readily adjustable. As seen, when the tapered plunger 30 is forced downwardly, it will contact the tapered block portions of each expander jaw carrier 68, forcing the expander jaw carriers radially outwardly against the compression springs 73.

This in turn will force the expander jaws 42 outwardly to the open position shown in Fig. 7. When the tapered plunger is raised, the spring 73 will force the expander jaw carrier 68 inwardly, thereby forcing the expander jaw 42 to the retracted position shown in Fig. 6.

In the operation of the above described machine, a container 40 is placed upon the lifting platform 38 which is in the downward position shown in solid lines in Fig. 1. Next, the operator pushes the starter button 62. Starter button 62 actuates a valve in the fluid line to the air ram 36, opening the upper half thereof to atmosphere. This causes the air ram 36 to raise the platform 38 to the phantom line position shown in Fig. 2, lifting the container 40 so that the top closure portion thereof abuts the expander jaws 42. As the lifting platform 38 is raised, the spring loaded switching arm 59 of electrical switch 60 is permitted to rise by the rising of the rod 58. When the air ram 36 has reached its full stroke, at which time the top closure of container 40 will abut the expander jaws 42, the switching arm 59 will reach the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1. At this time, the electrical switch 60 will energize the electrical circuit to the motor 24. The operation of the motor 24 through the driving gear 25 and the gear wheel 22 will cause a single rotation of the crank shaft 16. Such rotation of the crank shaft 16 from the position shown in Fig. 2 will drive the shaft 26 and with it the tapered plunger 30 downwardly. As above described, the downward stroke of the tapered plunger 30 will force the jaw carriers 68 and with them the expander jaws 42 outwardly. The expander jaws 42 engage the inner portion of the closure 76, forcing the same outwardly, crimping the same as illustrated in Fig. 8, thereby causing the peripheral channel portion of the closure 76 to fit tightly over the bead portion 77 of the closure wall, securing the closure to the container.

When the gear wheel 22 has made one complete revolution, a projecting lug 78 thereon strikes an inner toggle switch, not shown, which controls the valve mechanism to the air ram 36 to open the bottom portion thereof to atmosphere. When this occurs, the lifting platform 38 will drop and the rod 58 will engage the switching arm 59, opening the electrical switch 60, de-energizing the motor 24. Simultaneously, lug 78 strikes a second inner toggle switch 7811 which momentarily closes the electrical switch to the solenoid winding 23a activating the magnetic brake 17. While magnetic brake 17 is not essential to the operation of the machine, it has been found to be a convenient means for preventing the inertia of the parts from occasionally causing sufiicient rotation of the crank shaft 16 to force the tapered plunger 30 downwardly a sufiicient amount to expand the expander jaws 42 enough to grasp the container top and thereby jam the machine.

Trip pawl 55 will throw the toggle switch 57. Toggle switch 57 is connected to a suitable valve controlling the air flow to the ejector air ram 44. The lengths of shafts 54 and 58 are so chosen that trip pawl 55 will not trip toggle switch 57 until after electrical switch 60 has been opened. When so tripped, toggle switch 57 opens the inner portion of ejector air ram 44 to atmosphere. This operation causes the ram to drive the ejector plate 47 outwardly or to the right, as viewed in Fig. 1. This action forces the now closed container 40 out of the machine. Suitable ramps may be provided at the discharge point of the machine to receive the ejected containers. When the ejector plate 47 reaches its maximum inward stroke, trip pawl 49 throws toggle switch 52. Toggle switch 52 also controls the valve to ejector air ram 44, and when tripped, closes the inner side of the ram and opens the outer side to atmosphere, which operation forces the ejector plate 47 back to its initial position, shown in Fig. 1.

While not essential, it has been found desirable to incorporate a safety feature in the mechanism to insure that the ejector air ram 44 is in its fully retracted position when the lifting platform 38 is raised, in order to prevent the ejector plate from striking the lifting platform 38 and thereby damaging the machine. Such safety feature is provided by toggle switch 50. This switch controls a valve in the air line going to the air ram 36. Such valve operates to prevent the passage of any air to the lower side of the air ram 36 unless toggle switch 50 has been thrown to the outward position shown in Fig. 1. Trip pawl 49 engages toggle switch 50, opening such air line only when the ejector air ram 44 is in the retracted position.

To continuously operate the machine, it is only necessary that the operator guide a filled container onto the lifting platform 38 and push the starter button 62. When this is done, the container will be automatically raised so that the top closure thereof abuts the expander jaws 42 and is secured thereby to the body portion of the container. When this operation is completed, the container will be lowered to its initial position. The ejector air ram 44 will then operate to eject the closed container from the machine and return to its starting position, the machine now being ready to receive a second container.

The various air supply and valve mechanisms necessary to operate the air rams 36 and 44 are of conventional design and are not therefore described herein in detail.

It is to be understood that the form of the invention shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and that various embodiments thereof may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a machine of the class described, an expander head, expander jaws carried thereby, a tapered plunger adapted to enter said expander head and to thereby expand said expander jaws, means operative to drive said tapered plunger into and out of said expander head, a lifting platform disposed below said expander head and adapted to receive a container, means operative to raise said lifting platform to a raised position such that the top closure of said container abuts said expander jaws and to lower said lifting platform to a lowered position such that the top closure of said container is spaced from said expander jaws, a rod depending from said lifting platform, a switch operative to activate said first mentioned means, a switching arm operative to open and close said switch, said rod holding said switching arm in the closed position when said lifting platform is in said lowered position but releasing said switching arm to open said switch when said lifting platform is in said raised position whereby as said second mentioned means is activated to raise said lifting platform to the raised position, said first mentioned means is activated to force said tapered plunger into said expander head, expand said expander jaws and thereby secure said container closure to said container.

2. In a machine of the class described, an expander head, expander jaws carried thereby, atapered plunger adapted to enter said expander head and thereby to outwardly expand said expander jaws, a shaft attached to said tapered plunger, a crank shaft, a connecting rod carried thereby and attached to the first mentioned shaft, means for intermittently rotating said crank shaft in single revolutions whereby said tapered plunger is intermittently driven downwardly into said expander head and withdrawn therefrom, said expander jaws being thereby forced outwardly and then retracted, a lifting platform disposed below said expander head and adapted to receive a container, means operative to raise said lifting platform to a raised position such that the top closure of said container abuts said expander jaws and to lower said lifting platform to a lowered position such that the top closure of said container is spaced from said expander jaws, a rod depending from said lifting platform, a switch operative to activate said first mentioned means, a switching arm operative to open and close said switch, said rod holding said switching arm in the closed position when said lifting platform is in said'lowered position but releasing said switching arm to open said switch when said lifting platform is in said raised position whereby as'said second mentioned means is activated to raise said lifting platform to the raised position, said first mentioned means is activated to force said tapered plunger into said expander head, expand said expander jaws and thereby secure said container closure to said container.

3. In a machine of the class described, an expander head, expander jaws carried thereby, a tapered plunger adapted to enter said expander head and to thereby expand said expander jaws, means operative to drive said tapered plunger into and out of said expander head, a lifting platform disposed below said expander head and adapted to receive a container, means operative to raise said lifting platform to a raised position such that the top closure of said container abuts said expander jaws and to lower said lifting platform to a lowered position such that the top closure of said container is spaced from said expander jaws, a rod depending from said lifting platform, a switch operative to activate said first mentioned means, a switching arm operative to open and close said switch, said rod holding said switching arm in the closed position when said lifting platform is in said lowered position but releasing said switching arm to open said switch when said lifting platform is in said raised position whereby as said second mentioned means is activated to raise said lifting platform to the raised position, said first mentioned means is activated to force said tapered plunger into said expander head, expand said expander jaws and thereby secure said container closure to said container, ejector means operative to eject said container from said machine, a switch controlling said ejector means, a second rod depending from said lifting platform and operative to engage said switch when said lifting platform is in its lowered position and to thereby activate said ejector means.

4. In a machine of the class described, an expander head, expander jaws carried thereby, means for expanding said expander jaws, a lifting platform disposed below said expander head and adapted to receive a container, means operative to raise said lifting platform to a raised position such that the top closure of said container abuts said expander jaws and to lower said lifting platform to a lowered position such that the top closure ofsaid container is spaced from said expander jaws, a rod depending from said lifting platform, a switch operative to activate said first mentioned means, a switching arm operative to open and close said switch, said rod holding said switching arm in the closed position when said lifting platform is in said lowered position but releasing said switching arm to open said switch when said lifting platform is in said raised position whereby as said second mentioned means is activated to raise said lifting platform to the raised position, said first mentioned means is activated to expand said expander jaws and thereby secure said container closure to said container.

5. In a machine of the class described, an expander head, expander jaws carried thereby, means for expanding said expander jaws, a lifting platform disposed below said expander head and adapted to receive a container, means operative to raise said lifting platform to a raised position such that the top closure of said container abuts said expander jaws and to lower said lifting platform to a lowered position such that the top closure of said container is spaced from said expander jaws, a rod depending from said lifting platform, a switch operative to activate said first mentioned means, a switching arm operative to open and close said switch, said rod holding said switching arm in the closed position when said lifting platform is in said lowered position but releasing said switching arm to open said switch when said lifting platform is in said raised position whereby as said second mentioned means is activated to raise said lifting platform to the raised position, said first mentioned means is activated to expand said expander jaws and thereby secure said container closure to said container, ejector means operative to eject said container from said machine, a switch controlling said ejector means, a second rod depending from said lifting platform and operative to engage said switch when said lifting platform is in its lowered position and to thereby activate said ejector means.

6. In a machine of the class described, an expander head, expander jaws carried thereby, a tapered plunger adapted to enter said expander head and thereby to outwardly expand said expander jaws, a shaft attached to said tapered plunger, a crankshaft, a connecting rod carried thereby and attached to the first mentioned shaft, means for intermittently rotating said crankshaft in single revolutions whereby said tapered plunger is intermittently driven downwardly into said expander head and withdrawn therefrom, said expander jaws being thereby forced outwardly and then retracted, brake means on said crankshaft, a lifting platform disposed below said expander head, means for raising and lowering said lifting platform, means operably connected to said crankshaft for actuating said raising and lowering means in synchronous relation with the expansion and contraction of said expander jaws, and additional means operably connected to said crankshaft for actuation of said brake means upon withdrawal of said tapered plunger from said expander head.

7. In a machine of the class described, an expander head, expander jaws carried thereby, a tapered plunger adapted to enter said expander head and thereby to outwardly expand said expander jaws, a shaft attached to said tapered plunger, a crankshaft, a connecting rod carried thereby and attached to the first mentioned shaft, means for intermittently rotating said crankshaft in single revolutions whereby said tapered plunger is intermittently driven downwardly into said expander head and withdrawn therefrom, said expander jaws being thereby forced outwardly and then retracted, a lifting platform disposed belowsaid expander head and adapted to receive a container, means operative to raise said lifting platform to a raised position such that the top closure of said container abuts said expander jaws and to lower said lifting platform to a lowered position such that the top closure of said container is spaced from said expander jaws, a rod depending from said lifting platform, a switch operative to activate said first mentioned means, a switching arm operative to open and close said switch, said rod holding said switching arm in the closed position when said lifting platform is in said lowered position but releasing said switching arm to open said switch when said lifting platform is in said raised position whereby as said second mentioned means is activated to raise said lifting platform to the raised position, said first mentioned means is activated to force said tapered plunger into said expander head, expand said expander jaws and thereby secure said container closure to said container, brake means on said crankshaft, and means operably connected to said crankshaft for actuation of said brake means upon withdrawal 4 of said tapered plunger from said expander head.

8. In a machine of the class described, an expander head, expander jaws carried thereby, a tapered plunger adapted to enter said expander head and thereby to outwardly expand said expander jaws, a shaft attached to said tapered plunger, a crankshaft, a connecting rod carried thereby and attached to the first mentioned shaft, means for intermittently rotating said crankshaft in single revolutions whereby said tapered plunger is intermittently driven downwardly into said expander head and withdrawn therefrom, said expander jaws being thereby forced outwardly and then retracted, a lifting platform disposed below said expander head and adapted to receive a container, additional means operative to raise said lifting platform to a position such that the top closure of the said container abuts said expander jaws while said expander jaws are in a retracted position and to lower said lifting platform to a position that the top closure of said container is spaced from said expander jaws after said crankshaft has rotated a single revolution, brake means on said crankshaft, and means operably connected to said crankshaft for actuation of said brake means upon withdrawal of said tapered plunger from said expander head.

9. In a machine of the class described, an expander head, expander jaws carried thereby, a lifting platform disposed below said expander head and adapted to receive a container, means operative to raise said lifting platform to a raised position such that the top closure of said container abuts said expander jaws and to lower said lifting platform to a lowered position such that the top closure of said container is spaced from said expander jaws, means operative to expand and then retract said expander jaws when said platform is in the raised position, ejector means operative to eject said container from said machine, a switch controlling said ejector means, and a rod depending from said lifting platform and operative to engage said switch when said lifting platform is in its lowered position and to thereby actuate said ejector means.

10. In a machine of the class described, an expander head, expander jaws carried thereby, a tapered plunger adapted to enter said expander head and thereby expand said expander jaws outwardly, a lifting platform disposed below said expander head and adapted to receive a container, means operative to raise said lifting platform to a raised position such that the top closure of said container abuts said expander jaws and to lower said lifting platform to a lowered position such that the top closure of said container is spaced from said expander jaws, means operative to force said tapered plunger into and then out of said expander head as said lifting platform is in the raised position thereby securing said top closure to said container, ejector means operative to eject said container from said machine, a switch controlling said ejector means, and a rod depending from said lifting platform and operative to engage said switch when said lifting platform is in its lowered position and to thereby actuate said ejector means.

11. In a machine of the class described, an expander head, expander jaws carried thereby, a tapered plunger adapted to enter said expander head and thereby to outwardly expand said expander jaws, a shaft attached to said tapered plunger, a crankshaft, a connecting rod carried thereby and attached to the first mentioned shaft, means for intermittently rotating said crankshaft in single revolutions whereby said tapered plunger is intermittently driven downwardly into said expander head and withdrawn therefrom, said expander jaws being thereby forced outwardly and then retracted, a lifting platform disposed below said expander head and adapted to receive a container, means operative to raise said lifting platform to a raised position such that the top closure of said container abuts said expander jaws and to lower said lifting platform to a lowered position such that the top closure of said container is spaced from said expander jaws, a rod depending from said lifting platform, a switch oper ative to activate said first mentioned means, a switching arm operative to open and close said switch, said rod holding said switching arm in the closed position when said lifting platform is in said lowered position but releasing said switching arm to open said switch when said lifting platform is in said raised position whereby as said second mentioned means is activated to raise said lifting platform to the raised position, said first mentioned means is activated to force said tapered plunger into said expander head, expand said expander jaws and thereby secure said container closure to said container, brake means on said crankshaft, means operably connected to said crankshaft for actuation of said brake means upon withdrawal of said tapered plunger from said expander head, ejector means operative to eject said container from said machine, and means operably connected to said lifting platform for actuation of said ejector means when said lifting platform is in its lowered position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 808,556 Lindsay Dec. 26, 1905 934,371 Symonds Sept. 14, 1909 1,060,201 Meyer Apr. 29, 1913 1,081,466 Prosser Dec. 16, 1913 1,440,983 Hammer Ian. 2, 1923 2,204,594 Hogg June 18, 1940 

